Business Briefs Feb. 25 to Feb. 28

Talisker Corporation Executive Chef John Murcko, who oversees more than two dozen dining was named a semifinalist for the prestigious James Beard Foundation Awards, honoring excellence among culinary professionals.

On the same day that Murcko celebrated his 43rd birthday, two of his restaurants, Talisker on Main and The Farm at Canyons also received top honors in the Salt Lake Magazine 2012 Dining Awards. For the second consecutive year, Talisker on Main was named "Best Restaurant in Park City." The magazine singled out Murcko for "reinventing" Park City as a dining destination. Chef Briar Handly is also credited for keeping up "the quality since Murcko moved on to other kitchens in the giant resort."

The James Beard Foundation Awards will announce five finalists in each of 20 categories on March 19. Winners will be announced May 7th.

Revised Payroll Tax Form 941 Now Available to Employers

The Internal Revenue Service released the revised Form 941. Under the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, enacted this week, workers will continue to receive larger paychecks for the rest of this year based on a lower social security tax withholding rate of 4.2 percent, which is two percentage points less than the 6.2 percent rate in effect prior to 2011. This reduced rate, originally in effect for all of 2011, was extended through the end of February by the Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011, enacted Dec. 23. Self-employed individuals will also benefit from a comparable rate reduction in the social security portion of the self-employment tax from 12.4 percent to 10.4 percent. For 2012, the social security tax applies to the first $110,100 of wages and net self-employment income received by an individual. The IRS will issue additional guidance, as needed, to implement the newly-extended payroll tax cut and any further updates will be posted on IRS.gov.

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Free pancakes at IHOP on Feb. 28

The Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and IHOP restaurants will celebrate National Pancake Day Tuesday, Feb. 28 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. IHOP will be offering a free short stack of its famous buttermilk pancakes to each guest and, in return, diners will be asked to leave a little something behind for Primary Children’s Medical Center.